MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

March 12, 2010

1. Some Good News from the Legislature….So Far

2. Watch “Because You Voted Yes,” Now On-Line

3. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

——————————————————————

1. Some Good News from the Legislature….So Far

Both Sen. Tomassoni and Rep. Murphy have come out with their counter-proposals to the Governor’s draft budget. We are pleased to report that neither the House or Senate Divisions have so far gone along with the Governor’s proposal to get rid of the State Arts Board. Instead, the Senate bill would reduce the arts cuts to 3 and 5 percent in FY2010 and FY2011, respectively. Even better, the House’s bill reduces the cuts to 3 percent in both years. Either proposal would be close to the average cut to all state agencies, exactly what we had requested.

There is still a long way to go and lots of factors that will determine where we will end up. But this is an excellent start! Thanks to both Sen. Tomassoni and Rep. Murphy for getting the ball rolling in the right direction.

Thanks also to everyone who met with or wrote to their legislators as part of Arts Advocacy Day. You really are making a difference. You can still help the arts by sending letters to your legislators here: Arts Action Center.

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2. Watch “Because You Voted Yes,” Now On-Line

The public TV station in Austin, MN, has produced a great show about how the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment got passed and what it means for the arts. They did a really great job, and not just because they included an interview with me:

Check it out on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoRyLwQzeok. (If the link doesn’t get you there, search for “KSMQ Because You Voted Yes.”

Thanks also to Matt Peiken of 3 Minute Egg, who interviewed some of our Republican legislators on Arts Advocacy Day to gauge their response to our visits. Check out his great video at: http://blip.tv/file/3292443

——————————————————————

3. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

The Following Op-Ed Appeared First on Minnpost.com:

We are in difficult times. The arts, like every other part of society, are participating in those difficult times, with rising unemployment and shrinking budgets, during which arts organizations are trying to provide the same services with fewer resources.

This week Gov. Pawlenty revealed his plan to solve the state’s budget deficit. While he proposed that other state agencies take 3-6% cuts, he would cut the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Regional Arts Council (RAC) system by 33% in 2011 and 66% in 2012. Even more troubling, he would eliminate all general fund support by 2013, and then convert the State Arts Board to a private corporation.

Unfortunately his plan is out of proportion to the state deficit as well as to cuts to other areas. We recognize that the arts need to do our part to help solve the state’s deficit, but this means taking the same level of cuts as the rest of the budget, and not ten times more. Even more important, if the small funding for the arts is eliminated it would do almost nothing to solve the state’s deficit. So there really isn’t any point.

In 2008, when we Minnesotans passed the outdoors and arts amendment, we approved dedicated funding for the arts.

As someone who worked on the Vote Yes! campaign with many conservation and arts advocates, I was inspired by the overwhelming number of voters who affirmed that the arts are a defining feature of Minnesota. It showed that we value the arts and our great outdoors that we will take direct action to protect our quality of life.

The proposed cut does not affect the separate Legacy funding from the constitutional amendment, which reinforces the wisdom of the citizens of Minnesota in creating a dedicated source of funding that can’t just disappear.

But the Governor’s proposed budget has proven exactly why we needed to pass the amendment. The proposal is the opposite of the will of Minnesota’s voters to secure funding for the arts. And wisely, in order to guard against just this kind of budget “bait and switch” the constitutional language wisely says that amendment resources can’t be used as a substitute for current state funding from other sources.

Just think how our hunting and angling friends would react if the governor proposed deleting all conservation resources except for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment. There would be blaze orange riots in the streets.

In addition, as the MSAB deals almost exclusively with public funds, making it a private corporation would remove much of the state’s oversight and checks and balances on these dollars (such as the Open Meeting Law) which we think is very unwise.

Just this month the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils are launching the new grant programs made available by the amendment. Through extensive public input, from meetings across the state to on-line surveys, they collected the dreams and wishes of Minnesotans on what the Legacy money could do to create a more vibrant and accessible arts environment in our state. The result is a two-layer vision: local grants provided by the eleven Regional Arts Councils, and grants of statewide and regional significance to be provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board. Applications for the most part are due this month, and grants will be made in every county. (For more info, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm and www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm).

So what does this mean to you, the average Minnesotan? You will see, over the next several years, a flowering of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. There is no doubt that the result of the amendment will be increased access to the arts in every corner of the state.

However, like everything else in the state budget, the arts will lose some ground this year. We hope that in fairness it will be more proportionate to cuts to other agencies.

In the meantime, we must convince the Governor and Legislature to just follow the people’s will and let the Amendment work.

Sheila Smith is Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and was a member of the leadership team on the VoteYes! campaign.

——————————————————————

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

March 5, 2010

1. Reports and Heroes From Arts Advocacy Day

2. Arts All Star Awards

3. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

——————————————————————

1. Reports and Heroes From Arts Advocacy Day

Thanks again to all of the 500+ arts advocates who took over the state capitol on Tuesday. I think we really did some good for the arts agenda this week. Advocates reported a higher awareness of how state arts funding helps the arts via grants from the MN State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils, and support for our position to reduce the Governor’s proposed cuts to the arts. Our main message of the day was to reduce the cuts to 3-6%, which is what the average cut to all state agencies will probably be. Particularly important, we heard from the Chair of our Senate committee that his draft budget would treat the arts similarly to other state agencies in his jurisdiction. It may be a week or so before we hear from the House. So, it’s not too late to make your voice heard by sending your legislator a letter asking them to support the arts. You can do it in 5 minutes with our simple Arts Action Center. We give you talking points and set it up, all you have to do is enter your name and address and the letter will go automatically to the right elected officials. Now is the time!

Thanks also to Matt Peiken of 3 Minute Egg, who interviewed some of our Republican legislators to gauge their response to our visits. Check out this great video at: http://blip.tv/file/3292443

WHY WE LOVE ARTS ADVOCACY

While the most important thing about Arts Advocacy Day is delivering our community’s message to decision makers at the Capitol, I can’t help but love some of the reports advocates brought back from their meetings:

• Rep. Frank Hornstein did a “very good” Bob Dylan impersonation for his visiting advocates
• A few legislators serended their arts advocates with a song
• Sen. Paul Koering did a Ted Baxter impersonation for his team

So, for those of you who missed Advocacy Day this year, make sure to get it on your calendar for next year. You don’t want to miss out. And if you couldn’t get there this year – join us by sending letters to your legislators here: Arts Action Center.

——————————————————————

2. Arts All Star Awards

Senator Richard Cohen, newly appointed to the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities and long time Arts All Star, gave a rousing speech at the rally, and received a lengthy standing ovation from the crowd for his tireless work on behalf of the arts. One of the fun parts of Arts Advocacy Day was giving six great legislators their first Arts All Star Awards. The Arts All Star Award is given to legislators who exhibit extraordinary support for the arts in their districts and who actively work to support Minnesota Citizens for the Art’s agenda at the capitol. Each legislator is eligible to receive the award only once in their careers.

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO:

SENATORS:

• Linda Scheid (D, 46, Brooklyn Park),
• Linda Higgins (D, 58, N. Mpls.) and
• Mary Olson (D, 4, Bemidji)
  

REPRESENTATIVES:

• Will Morgan (D, 40A, Burnsville),
• Leon Lillie (D, 55A, N. St. Paul),
• Bob Gunther (R, 24A, Fairmont)

At the morning rally, we also gave the annual “Larry Award” to Ben Vander Kooi Jr. of Luverne. Ben has served on the MCA board for many years, including as Board Chair in 1996-7. He is a hard working arts advocate in his own corner of the state, and received special recognition for working together with the hunting, angling and environmental community in Southwest Minnesota to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Event. Congratulations to Ben!

——————————————————————

3. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

The Following Op-Ed Appeared First on Minnpost.com:

We are in difficult times. The arts, like every other part of society, are participating in those difficult times, with rising unemployment and shrinking budgets, during which arts organizations are trying to provide the same services with fewer resources.

This week Gov. Pawlenty revealed his plan to solve the state’s budget deficit. While he proposed that other state agencies take 3-6% cuts, he would cut the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Regional Arts Council (RAC) system by 33% in 2011 and 66% in 2012. Even more troubling, he would eliminate all general fund support by 2013, and then convert the State Arts Board to a private corporation.

Unfortunately his plan is out of proportion to the state deficit as well as to cuts to other areas. We recognize that the arts need to do our part to help solve the state’s deficit, but this means taking the same level of cuts as the rest of the budget, and not ten times more. Even more important, if the small funding for the arts is eliminated it would do almost nothing to solve the state’s deficit. So there really isn’t any point.

In 2008, when we Minnesotans passed the outdoors and arts amendment, we approved dedicated funding for the arts.

As someone who worked on the Vote Yes! campaign with many conservation and arts advocates, I was inspired by the overwhelming number of voters who affirmed that the arts are a defining feature of Minnesota. It showed that we value the arts and our great outdoors that we will take direct action to protect our quality of life.

The proposed cut does not affect the separate Legacy funding from the constitutional amendment, which reinforces the wisdom of the citizens of Minnesota in creating a dedicated source of funding that can’t just disappear.

But the Governor’s proposed budget has proven exactly why we needed to pass the amendment. The proposal is the opposite of the will of Minnesota’s voters to secure funding for the arts. And wisely, in order to guard against just this kind of budget “bait and switch” the constitutional language wisely says that amendment resources can’t be used as a substitute for current state funding from other sources.

Just think how our hunting and angling friends would react if the governor proposed deleting all conservation resources except for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment. There would be blaze orange riots in the streets.

In addition, as the MSAB deals almost exclusively with public funds, making it a private corporation would remove much of the state’s oversight and checks and balances on these dollars (such as the Open Meeting Law) which we think is very unwise.

Just this month the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils are launching the new grant programs made available by the amendment. Through extensive public input, from meetings across the state to on-line surveys, they collected the dreams and wishes of Minnesotans on what the Legacy money could do to create a more vibrant and accessible arts environment in our state. The result is a two-layer vision: local grants provided by the eleven Regional Arts Councils, and grants of statewide and regional significance to be provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board. Applications for the most part are due this month, and grants will be made in every county. (For more info, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm and www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm).

So what does this mean to you, the average Minnesotan? You will see, over the next several years, a flowering of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. There is no doubt that the result of the amendment will be increased access to the arts in every corner of the state.

However, like everything else in the state budget, the arts will lose some ground this year. We hope that in fairness it will be more proportionate to cuts to other agencies.

In the meantime, we must convince the Governor and Legislature to just follow the people’s will and let the Amendment work.

Sheila Smith is Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and was a member of the leadership team on the VoteYes! campaign.

——————————————————————

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

March 2 , 2010

1. Couldn’t Make it to Arts Advocacy Day Today? You Can Still Take Action to Oppose Arts Cuts!

2. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

——————————————————————

1. Couldn’t Make it to Arts Advocacy Day Today? You Can Still Take Action to Oppose Arts Cuts!

WOW! 500+ Arts Advocates rocked the state capitol today. Thanks to everyone for coming out on this beautiful day!

Couldn’t make it? You can still be a part of it all:

Send a letter to your legislator today saying you want them to protect the arts. You can do it in 5 minutes with our simple Arts Action Center. We give you talking points and set it up, all you have to do is enter your name and address and the letter will go automatically to the right elected officials. Now is the time – House and Senate committees will be making their budget recommendations soon!

Gov. Pawlenty has proposed cutting the arts by 33 percent in 2011, and eventual elimination of the State Arts Board after 2013, as part of a package of budget changes intended to balance the state’s budget. This arts funding goes through the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils as grants and services to all 87 Minnesota counties. The Governor’s budget proposal flies in the face of the clear message sent by voters in the passage of the Amendment: that we want MORE investment in the arts and culture, not less. To then additionally propose getting rid of the State Arts Board is the opposite of the intent of voters.

——————————————————————

2. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

The Following Op-Ed Appeared First on Minnpost.com:

We are in difficult times. The arts, like every other part of society, are participating in those difficult times, with rising unemployment and shrinking budgets, during which arts organizations are trying to provide the same services with fewer resources.

This week Gov. Pawlenty revealed his plan to solve the state’s budget deficit. While he proposed that other state agencies take 3-6% cuts, he would cut the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Regional Arts Council (RAC) system by 33% in 2011 and 66% in 2012. Even more troubling, he would eliminate all general fund support by 2013, and then convert the State Arts Board to a private corporation.

Unfortunately his plan is out of proportion to the state deficit as well as to cuts to other areas. We recognize that the arts need to do our part to help solve the state’s deficit, but this means taking the same level of cuts as the rest of the budget, and not ten times more. Even more important, if the small funding for the arts is eliminated it would do almost nothing to solve the state’s deficit. So there really isn’t any point.

In 2008, when we Minnesotans passed the outdoors and arts amendment, we approved dedicated funding for the arts.

As someone who worked on the Vote Yes! campaign with many conservation and arts advocates, I was inspired by the overwhelming number of voters who affirmed that the arts are a defining feature of Minnesota. It showed that we value the arts and our great outdoors that we will take direct action to protect our quality of life.

The proposed cut does not affect the separate Legacy funding from the constitutional amendment, which reinforces the wisdom of the citizens of Minnesota in creating a dedicated source of funding that can’t just disappear.

But the Governor’s proposed budget has proven exactly why we needed to pass the amendment. The proposal is the opposite of the will of Minnesota’s voters to secure funding for the arts. And wisely, in order to guard against just this kind of budget “bait and switch” the constitutional language wisely says that amendment resources can’t be used as a substitute for current state funding from other sources.

Just think how our hunting and angling friends would react if the governor proposed deleting all conservation resources except for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment. There would be blaze orange riots in the streets.

In addition, as the MSAB deals almost exclusively with public funds, making it a private corporation would remove much of the state’s oversight and checks and balances on these dollars (such as the Open Meeting Law) which we think is very unwise.

Just this month the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils are launching the new grant programs made available by the amendment. Through extensive public input, from meetings across the state to on-line surveys, they collected the dreams and wishes of Minnesotans on what the Legacy money could do to create a more vibrant and accessible arts environment in our state. The result is a two-layer vision: local grants provided by the eleven Regional Arts Councils, and grants of statewide and regional significance to be provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board. Applications for the most part are due this month, and grants will be made in every county. (For more info, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm and www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm).

So what does this mean to you, the average Minnesotan? You will see, over the next several years, a flowering of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. There is no doubt that the result of the amendment will be increased access to the arts in every corner of the state.

However, like everything else in the state budget, the arts will lose some ground this year. We hope that in fairness it will be more proportionate to cuts to other agencies.

In the meantime, we must convince the Governor and Legislature to just follow the people’s will and let the Amendment work.

Sheila Smith is Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and was a member of the leadership team on the VoteYes! campaign.

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

Feb. 26, 2010

1. Arts Advocacy Day Sign-Up Deadline is TODAY: www.mncitizensforthearts.org

2. Take Action Now to Oppose Cuts to the Arts!: Arts Action Center

3. BACKGROUND: Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

——————————————————————

1. Arts Advocacy Day Sign-Up Deadline is TODAY:

THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO DELETE THE ARTS MAKES ARTS ADVOCACY DAY VERY IMPORTANT. Please Join Us!

You are invited to the best arts networking opportunity of the year, MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, 2010 in St. Paul. Join your fellow arts advocates at the MN History Center and State Capitol on March 2, 2010 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. The state is facing yet another big deficit and arts funding will be threatened again. This year artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to stop possible cuts to the state arts budget. We will also be thanking legislators for their appropriations from the new Amendment funds to the arts community. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past deficits, state arts funding has been cut by a third. Participation of arts advocates is the one thing that makes sure we have power at the legislature.

Arts Advocacy Day Schedule March 2, 2010
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for new attendees
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar & Join your team
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator appointments

You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing. Register Online By: Visiting www.mncitizensforthearts.org by February 26th, 2010. Questions? Contact Mark at MCA: 651-251-0868 / staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community.

——————————————————————

2. Take Action Now to Oppose Cuts to the Arts!:

Gov. Pawlenty has proposed cutting the arts by 33 percent in 2011, and eventual elimination of the State Arts Board after 2013, as part of a package of budget changes intended to balance the state’s budget. This arts funding goes through the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils as grants and services to all 87 Minnesota counties. The Governor’s budget proposal flies in the face of the clear message sent by voters in the passage of the Amendment: that we want MORE investment in the arts and culture, not less. To then additionally propose getting rid of the State Arts Board is the opposite of the intent of voters.

That is why it is important for you to do TWO THINGS to help the arts:

1. Send a letter to your legislator today saying you want them to protect the arts. You can do it in 5 minutes with our simple Arts Action Center. We give you talking points and set it up, all you have to do is enter your name and address and the letter will go automatically to the right elected officials. Do it before Arts Advocacy Day!

2. Sign up and attend Arts Advocacy Day on Feb. 24. www.mncitizensforthearts.org (See more info. above).

——————————————————————

3. Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

The Following Op-Ed Appeared First on Minnpost.com:

We are in difficult times. The arts, like every other part of society, are participating in those difficult times, with rising unemployment and shrinking budgets, during which arts organizations are trying to provide the same services with fewer resources.

This week Gov. Pawlenty revealed his plan to solve the state’s budget deficit. While he proposed that other state agencies take 3-6% cuts, he would cut the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Regional Arts Council (RAC) system by 33% in 2011 and 66% in 2012. Even more troubling, he would eliminate all general fund support by 2013, and then convert the State Arts Board to a private corporation.

Unfortunately his plan is out of proportion to the state deficit as well as to cuts to other areas. We recognize that the arts need to do our part to help solve the state’s deficit, but this means taking the same level of cuts as the rest of the budget, and not ten times more. Even more important, if the small funding for the arts is eliminated it would do almost nothing to solve the state’s deficit. So there really isn’t any point.

In 2008, when we Minnesotans passed the outdoors and arts amendment, we approved dedicated funding for the arts.

As someone who worked on the Vote Yes! campaign with many conservation and arts advocates, I was inspired by the overwhelming number of voters who affirmed that the arts are a defining feature of Minnesota. It showed that we value the arts and our great outdoors that we will take direct action to protect our quality of life.

The proposed cut does not affect the separate Legacy funding from the constitutional amendment, which reinforces the wisdom of the citizens of Minnesota in creating a dedicated source of funding that can’t just disappear.

But the Governor’s proposed budget has proven exactly why we needed to pass the amendment. The proposal is the opposite of the will of Minnesota’s voters to secure funding for the arts. And wisely, in order to guard against just this kind of budget “bait and switch” the constitutional language wisely says that amendment resources can’t be used as a substitute for current state funding from other sources.

Just think how our hunting and angling friends would react if the governor proposed deleting all conservation resources except for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment. There would be blaze orange riots in the streets.

In addition, as the MSAB deals almost exclusively with public funds, making it a private corporation would remove much of the state’s oversight and checks and balances on these dollars (such as the Open Meeting Law) which we think is very unwise.

Just this month the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils are launching the new grant programs made available by the amendment. Through extensive public input, from meetings across the state to on-line surveys, they collected the dreams and wishes of Minnesotans on what the Legacy money could do to create a more vibrant and accessible arts environment in our state. The result is a two-layer vision: local grants provided by the eleven Regional Arts Councils, and grants of statewide and regional significance to be provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board. Applications for the most part are due this month, and grants will be made in every county. (For more info, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm and www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm).

So what does this mean to you, the average Minnesotan? You will see, over the next several years, a flowering of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. There is no doubt that the result of the amendment will be increased access to the arts in every corner of the state.

However, like everything else in the state budget, the arts will lose some ground this year. We hope that in fairness it will be more proportionate to cuts to other agencies.

In the meantime, we must convince the Governor and Legislature to just follow the people’s will and let the Amendment work.

Sheila Smith is Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and was a member of the leadership team on the VoteYes! campaign.

Sign up NOW for Arts Advocacy Day at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org and make your voice heard.

Help us protect the arts!

——————————————————————

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

Feb. 19, 2010

1. Arts Advocacy Day is a Little Over One Week Away – Register Now!

2. Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

——————————————————————

1. Arts Advocacy Day is a Little Over One Week Away – Register Now!

THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO DELETE THE ARTS MAKES ARTS ADVOCACY DAY VERY IMPORTANT. Please Join Us!

You are invited to the best arts networking opportunity of the year, MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, 2010 in St. Paul. Join your fellow arts advocates at the MN History Center and State Capitol on March 2, 2010 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. The state is facing yet another big deficit and arts funding will be threatened again. This year artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to stop possible cuts to the state arts budget. We will also be thanking legislators for their appropriations from the new Amendment funds to the arts community. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past deficits, state arts funding has been cut by a third. Participation of arts advocates is the one thing that makes sure we have power at the legislature.

Arts Advocacy Day Schedule March 2, 2010
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for new attendees
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar & Join your team
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator appointments

You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing. Register Online By: Visiting www.mncitizensforthearts.org by February 26th, 2010. Questions? Contact Mark at MCA: 651-251-0868 / staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community.

And check out two great VIDEOS from Arts Advocacy Day Held February 24, 2009:
3 Minute Egg by Matt Peiken: http://3minuteegg.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/arts-advocacy-day
…and MN Stories by Chuck Olsen (Go to YouTube and search for 2009 Minnesota Arts Advocacy Day if this link refuses to work): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3J85v23Ig

——————————————————————

2. Governor’s Proposed Arts Cuts are Too Deep – And Contrary to the Will of Minnesota Voters

The Following Op-Ed Appeared First on Minnpost.com:

We are in difficult times. The arts, like every other part of society, are participating in those difficult times, with rising unemployment and shrinking budgets, during which arts organizations are trying to provide the same services with fewer resources.

This week Gov. Pawlenty revealed his plan to solve the state’s budget deficit. While he proposed that other state agencies take 3-6% cuts, he would cut the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Regional Arts Council (RAC) system by 33% in 2011 and 66% in 2012. Even more troubling, he would eliminate all general fund support by 2013, and then convert the State Arts Board to a private corporation.

Unfortunately his plan is out of proportion to the state deficit as well as to cuts to other areas. We recognize that the arts need to do our part to help solve the state’s deficit, but this means taking the same level of cuts as the rest of the budget, and not ten times more. Even more important, if the small funding for the arts is eliminated it would do almost nothing to solve the state’s deficit. So there really isn’t any point.

In 2008, when we Minnesotans passed the outdoors and arts amendment, we approved dedicated funding for the arts.

As someone who worked on the Vote Yes! campaign with many conservation and arts advocates, I was inspired by the overwhelming number of voters who affirmed that the arts are a defining feature of Minnesota. It showed that we value the arts and our great outdoors that we will take direct action to protect our quality of life.

The proposed cut does not affect the separate Legacy funding from the constitutional amendment, which reinforces the wisdom of the citizens of Minnesota in creating a dedicated source of funding that can’t just disappear.

But the Governor’s proposed budget has proven exactly why we needed to pass the amendment. The proposal is the opposite of the will of Minnesota’s voters to secure funding for the arts. And wisely, in order to guard against just this kind of budget “bait and switch” the constitutional language wisely says that amendment resources can’t be used as a substitute for current state funding from other sources.

Just think how our hunting and angling friends would react if the governor proposed deleting all conservation resources except for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment. There would be blaze orange riots in the streets.

In addition, as the MSAB deals almost exclusively with public funds, making it a private corporation would remove much of the state’s oversight and checks and balances on these dollars (such as the Open Meeting Law) which we think is very unwise.

Just this month the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils are launching the new grant programs made available by the amendment. Through extensive public input, from meetings across the state to on-line surveys, they collected the dreams and wishes of Minnesotans on what the Legacy money could do to create a more vibrant and accessible arts environment in our state. The result is a two-layer vision: local grants provided by the eleven Regional Arts Councils, and grants of statewide and regional significance to be provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board. Applications for the most part are due this month, and grants will be made in every county. (For more info, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm and www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm).

So what does this mean to you, the average Minnesotan? You will see, over the next several years, a flowering of opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. There is no doubt that the result of the amendment will be increased access to the arts in every corner of the state.

However, like everything else in the state budget, the arts will lose some ground this year. We hope that in fairness it will be more proportionate to cuts to other agencies.

In the meantime, we must convince the Governor and Legislature to just follow the people’s will and let the Amendment work.

Sheila Smith is Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and was a member of the leadership team on the VoteYes! campaign.

Sign up NOW for Arts Advocacy Day at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org and make your voice heard.

Help us protect the arts!

——————————————————————

RESOURCES

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

• Chat with us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MNCITIZEN
• Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts
• Join MCA’s Facebook Page: Search for: MNCitizens Forthearts
• View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
• Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
• Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

Feb. 15 , 2010

1. Governor Proposes Big Arts Cuts

2. Arts Advocacy Day is Just Two Weeks Away – Register Now!

3. State Arts Board Legacy Applications Due This Month

4. Don’t Forget the Other Access Points for New Legacy Money

5. The MSAB Wants You to Serve on a Legacy Funding Panel

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1. Governor Proposes Big Arts Cuts

Today Gov. Pawlenty revealed his plan to solve the state’s never ending budget deficit. Among a variety of cuts to state agencies and many other programs, he proposed cutting Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council funding by 33% in 2011, and eliminating general fund support of the MSAB and RACs altogether by 2013, to “transition (the agency) to a nonprofit corporation.” (This means that there would be no regular state funding for the arts, and that the private sector would be expected to pick up the tab).

His proposal for most other state agencies appeared to be cuts in the 3% range, so the arts cuts are way out of proportion to the state’s deficit and also out of proportion to his treatment of the rest of the budget. In addition, as the MSAB deals almost exclusively with public funds, making it a nonprofit corporation would remove the state’s oversight and checks and balances on these dollars, such as the Open Meeting Law, which we think is very unwise.

The proposal does not affect the separate Legacy funding from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment, which reinforces the wisdom of the citizens of Minnesota in creating a dedicated source of funding that can’t disappear at the whim of a governor. However, it goes completely opposite of the will of Minnesota’s voters to increase funding for the arts, and also goes against our state constitution which says that amendment resources can’t be used as a substitute for current state funding from other sources.

So, what do we do? Fight back! We MUST turn out at Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, and ask our legislators to limit the cuts to the arts to the 3% proposed for all other agencies. We can do our part to help solve the state’s deficit, but we should be treated no worse than any other area.

Sign up NOW for Arts Advocacy Day at: www.mncitizensforthearts.org and make your voice heard.

Help us protect the arts!

——————————————————————

2. Arts Advocacy Day is Just Two Weeks Away – Register Now!

You are invited to the best arts networking opportunity of the year, MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, 2010 in St. Paul. Join your fellow arts advocates at the MN History Center and State Capitol on March 2, 2010 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. The state is facing yet another big deficit and arts funding will be threatened again. This year artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to stop possible cuts to the state arts budget. We will also be thanking legislators for their appropriations from the new Amendment funds to the arts community. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past deficits, state arts funding has been cut by a third. Participation of arts advocates is the one thing that makes sure we have power at the legislature.

Arts Advocacy Day Schedule March 2, 2010
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for new attendees
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar & Join your team
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator appointments

You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing. Register Online By: Visiting www.mncitizensforthearts.org by February 26th, 2010. Questions? Contact Mark at MCA: 651-251-0868 / staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community.

And check out two great VIDEOS from Arts Advocacy Day Held February 24, 2009:
3 Minute Egg by Matt Peiken: http://3minuteegg.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/arts-advocacy-day
…and MN Stories by Chuck Olsen (Go to YouTube and search for 2009 Minnesota Arts Advocacy Day if this link refuses to work): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3J85v23Ig

——————————————————————

3. State Arts Board Legacy Applications Due This Month

Application forms and info are up on the Minnesota State Arts Board website. The new grants programs are made possible by the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The Board created four major new programs as well as a number of smaller initiatives. Most of these new programs will have application deadlines in February, 2010, with award panels held in March/April, and grants made in June, 2010. So you have no time to waste! The four major new programs and their application due dates are:

1. Arts Tour Minnesota – Due Feb. 12, 2010 and Festivals Grants – Due Feb. 26, 2010
2. Arts Access Grants – Due Feb. 26, 2010
3. Professional Development for Artists and Organizations/Artist Initiative Grants. (Programs still in development)
4. Life-Long Arts Learning Opportunities – Due Feb. 19, 2010

Smaller new programs include a census of artists and arts organizations, a touring folk/traditional visual arts exhibition, and additional traditional and folk arts grants. These programs are in addition to the Board’s previous decision to provide stabilization grants for arts organizations and presenters. And remember, these larger grant programs are in addition to all of the many new Arts, Arts Access, Arts Education and Arts and Cultural Heritage programs being launched across the state by our eleven Regional Arts Councils.

——————————————————————

4. Don’t Forget the Other Access Points for New Legacy Money

We are keeping a run-down on all of the various access points for amendment resources on our website: check http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/amendment-funds/othergrants/ for a listing of other opportunties from libraries, public broadcasting, etc.

——————————————————————

5. The MSAB Wants You to Serve on a Legacy Funding Panel

Help the Arts Board decide how to spend arts and cultural heritage fund dollars

The Minnesota State Arts Board is seeking individuals who would like to serve on advisory panels that will review grant applications and make funding recommendations to the board. Panelists are needed for six programs: Arts Access, Arts Learning, Arts Tour Minnesota, Community Arts Schools and Conservatories, Folk and Traditional Arts, Minnesota Festival Support. For more detail about each program visit http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm

Advisory panel members must have expertise and experience in a particular area of the arts, arts funding, or administration; in-depth knowledge of the Minnesota arts community; communications and decision-making skills; and an ability to work well in a group. Artists, administrators, educators, volunteer directors of arts organizations, trustees of arts organizations, and other participants in the arts may serve as advisory panel members.

Panel member must read all materials in advance of the scheduled panel meeting, and attend and fully participate in the panel meeting. Panels generally will last two to four days, and will take place sometime between March 29 and April 30, 2010.

Panel members do not receive compensation, but will be reimbursed for allowable travel, lodging, and meal costs.

To nominate yourself, or someone else, please complete a nomination form: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/pubs/pubs/panel_nomination_2007.pdf
Submit it, with a current resume, to Jennifer Tonko via e-mail, fax, or mail:
jennifer.tonko@arts.state.mn.us , fax: (6510 215-1602, phone: (651) 215-1608 | (800) 866-2787, Minnesota State Arts Board, 200 Park Square Court, 400 Sibley Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101

———————————————————————-

RESOURCES

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

• Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
• Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts
• Join MCA’s Facebook Page: Search for: MNCitizens Forthearts
• View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
• Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone.
ABOUT: MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us.

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

Feb. 5 , 2010

1. Hey! Arts Advocacy Day is Less Than a Month Away – Register Now!

2. Both House and Senate Recommend Arts Bonding Projects

3. State Arts Board Legacy Applications Due This Month

4. Don’t Forget the Other Access Points for New Legacy Money

5. The MSAB Wants You to Serve on a Legacy Funding Panel

6. Internship Opening at MCA

——————————————————————

1. Hey! Arts Advocacy Day is Less Than a Month Away – Register Now!

You are invited to the best arts networking opportunity of the year, MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, 2010 in St. Paul. Join your fellow arts advocates at the MN History Center and State Capitol on March 2, 2010 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. The state is facing yet another big deficit and arts funding will be threatened again. This year artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to stop possible cuts to the state arts budget. We will also be thanking legislators for their appropriations from the new Amendment funds to the arts community. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past deficits, state arts funding has been cut by a third. Participation of arts advocates is the one thing that makes sure we have power at the legislature.

Arts Advocacy Day Schedule March 2, 2010
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for new attendees
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar & Join your team
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator appointments

You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing. Register Online By: Visiting www.mncitizensforthearts.org by February 26th, 2010. Questions? Contact Mark at MCA: 651-251-0868 / staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community.

And check out two great VIDEOS from Arts Advocacy Day Held February 24, 2009:
3 Minute Egg by Matt Peiken: http://3minuteegg.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/arts-advocacy-day
…and MN Stories by Chuck Olsen (Go to YouTube and search for 2009 Minnesota Arts Advocacy Day if this link refuses to work): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3J85v23Ig

——————————————————————

2. Both House and Senate Recommend Arts Bonding Projects

The Governor did not recommend any of the arts and culture projects in his proposed state bonding bill. In fact, he included almost no local projects in his proposal. Both the House and Senate, though, have included many of them. There is a big disagreement between the governor and legislature on how big the bonding bill should be. Pawlenty only wants to spend $600M, the legislature wants to spend about $1B as an economic stimulus. This means that the list will be narrowed, and that the Governor will probably veto the whole bill or line item veto projects until it is closer to the amount he wants to spend.

Below is a list of some of the projects that have surfaced so far, who is requesting them, how they have fared so far, and links to more information.

• Chatfield Public Schools/ Potter Center for the Arts (would house the Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library).
  REQUEST: $9,105,000, GOV: $0, HOUSE: $7,094,000, SENATE: $2,217,000
  http://www.hometown-pages.com/main.asp?SectionID=44&SubSectionID=182&ArticleID=29387&TM=83633.39
• City of Minneapolis/ Orchestra Hall & Peavey Plaza Redevelopment.
  REQUEST: $22M, GOV: $0, HOUSE: $17M, SENATE: $14.1M
  http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buildingforthefuture/
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board/ Minneapolis Sculpture Garden & Conservatory Rehab.
  REQUEST: $8.5M, GOV: $0, HOUSE: $200,000, SENATE: $2M
  garden.walkerart.org/bonding
• City of St. Paul/ Arts Partnership Expansion of Ordway Center
  REQUEST: $17.5M. GOV: $0, HOUSE: $16M, SENATE: $15M
  (Call Patrick DeWane for more info. 612-342-9574)
• City of Mankato/ Mankato Civic Center expansion of auditorium
  REQUEST: $13.9M, GOV: $0, HOUSE: $13.9M, SENATE: $13.9M
  http://www.mankato-mn.gov/Projects/CM.aspx
• City of Spring Valley/ Brave Community Theater.
  REQUEST: $?, GOV: $0, HOUSE $0, Senate $0
  http://www.bravecommunitytheatre.org/

There are also a few “cultural” projects for which there may or may not be a partial arts focus:

• Hennepin County/ African American Museum and Cultural Center
  REQUEST: $840,000, GOV: $0, HOUSE: $840,000, SENATE: $500,000
• City of St. Paul/ Asian Pacific Cultural Center
  REQUEST: $9.75M, GOV $0, HOUSE: $7M, SENATE: $5M

  http://www.apccmn.org/

If you want to help with advocating for any of these projects, please contact the organization involved.

NOTE: Bonding is how the state borrows money to build buildings, and the buildings must be owned by a unit of government. The state’s bonding process is a completely different source of funds than general funding (the state’s biennial budget) or amendment funding (which is restricted in its uses). MCA does not lobby for indivudual bonding projects, but will provide advice to organizations seeking bonding funds if asked.

——————————————————————

3. State Arts Board Legacy Applications Due This Month

Application forms and info are up on the Minnesota State Arts Board website. The new grants programs are made possible by the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The Board created four major new programs as well as a number of smaller initiatives. Most of these new programs will have application deadlines in February, 2010, with award panels held in March/April, and grants made in June, 2010. So you have no time to waste! The four major new programs and their application due dates are:

1. Arts Tour Minnesota – Due Feb. 12, 2010 and Festivals Grants – Due Feb. 26, 2010
2. Arts Access Grants – Due Feb. 26, 2010
3. Professional Development for Artists and Organizations/Artist Initiative Grants. (Programs still in development)
4. Life-Long Arts Learning Opportunities – Due Feb. 19, 2010

Smaller new programs include a census of artists and arts organizations, a touring folk/traditional visual arts exhibition, and additional traditional and folk arts grants. These programs are in addition to the Board’s previous decision to provide stabilization grants for arts organizations and presenters. And remember, these larger grant programs are in addition to all of the many new Arts, Arts Access, Arts Education and Arts and Cultural Heritage programs being launched across the state by our eleven Regional Arts Councils.

——————————————————————

4. Don’t Forget the Other Access Points for New Legacy Money

We are keeping a run-down on all of the various access points for amendment resources on our website: check http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/amendment-funds/othergrants/ for a listing of other opportunties from libraries, public broadcasting, etc.

——————————————————————

5. The MSAB Wants You to Serve on a Legacy Funding Panel

Help the Arts Board decide how to spend arts and cultural heritage fund dollars

The Minnesota State Arts Board is seeking individuals who would like to serve on advisory panels that will review grant applications and make funding recommendations to the board. Panelists are needed for six programs: Arts Access, Arts Learning, Arts Tour Minnesota, Community Arts Schools and Conservatories, Folk and Traditional Arts, Minnesota Festival Support. For more detail about each program visit http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf.htm

Advisory panel members must have expertise and experience in a particular area of the arts, arts funding, or administration; in-depth knowledge of the Minnesota arts community; communications and decision-making skills; and an ability to work well in a group. Artists, administrators, educators, volunteer directors of arts organizations, trustees of arts organizations, and other participants in the arts may serve as advisory panel members.

Panel member must read all materials in advance of the scheduled panel meeting, and attend and fully participate in the panel meeting. Panels generally will last two to four days, and will take place sometime between March 29 and April 30, 2010.

Panel members do not receive compensation, but will be reimbursed for allowable travel, lodging, and meal costs.

To nominate yourself, or someone else, please complete a nomination form: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/pubs/pubs/panel_nomination_2007.pdf
Submit it, with a current resume, to Jennifer Tonko via e-mail, fax, or mail:
jennifer.tonko@arts.state.mn.us , fax: (6510 215-1602, phone: (651) 215-1608 | (800) 866-2787, Minnesota State Arts Board, 200 Park Square Court, 400 Sibley Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101

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6. Internship Opening at MCA

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding, seeks an intern to begin February 1st. The position is un-paid, part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week).

MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year.

Interns will have exposure to and opportunities to interact with some of the movers and shakers in the arts community, as well as a working knowledge of the legislative process, arts funding structures in Minnesota and the basic functions of running a nonprofit. Perks include free tickets to performances and many opportunities to advance in the arts and/or political community.

Duties and projects included in the internship: Work with staff on current projects including grassroots organizing, candidate meetings, voter education, board meeting preparation, filing and data entry. Interns may also have the opportunity to identify and take on projects of interest that relate to arts advocacy.

A qualified applicant would possess the following skills:

• Understanding of the political process. Past political experience preferred.
• Interest in working with the arts community.
• Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone.
• A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously.
• Computer literacy; preferably experience with Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel and database systems.
• Independent and creative work habits.

APPLY NOW: Please mail or email resume and cover letter ASAP by Jan. 27, 2010 to: Mark Albers, staff at mncitizensforthearts.org, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114

———————————————————————-

MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

January 22, 2010

1. NEA Report Confirms Minnesota Has Lots of Artists

2. “GLEE” and Arts Advocacy

3. Arts Organizations Seek Bonding Funds at Legislature

4. Register Now For Arts Advocacy Day: March 2, 2010

5. State Arts Board Legacy Applications Due in February

6. Don’t Forget the Other Access Points for New Legacy Money

7. New Internship Opening at MCA

——————————————————————

1. NEA Report Confirms Minnesota Has Lots of Artists

Lesson learned: clean off your desk. Recently I spent some time perusing the detailed back tables in the NEA’s ARTISTS IN THE WORKFORCE 1990 – 2005 which came out in June, 2008, and, to my surprise, found a bunch of interesting numbers about Minnesota’s artists.

The big news for Minnesota is that, for a relatively small state, we have a very high concentration of artists. We are 21st in state population… (behind CA, TX, NY, FL, IL, PA, OH, MI, NJ, GA, NC, VA, MA, IN, WA, TN, MO, WI, MD, and AZ).

Yet, we are:

• 9th in number of actors (465)
• 14th in number of writers and authors (3520)

Even more interesting, on a per capita basis (number of artists per 10,000 people), we are:

• 6th per capita in actors (.9 per 10,000)
• 6th per capita in photographers (5.1 per 10,000)
• 8th per capita in designers (31.9 per 10,000)
• 10th per capita in musicians (6.2 per 10,000)
• 11th per capita in writers and authors (7.2 per 10,000)
• 12th per capita in producers and directors (4.6 per 10,000)
• 14th per capita in architects (7.5 per 10,000)

This makes us the 11th state per capita in artists (77 per 10,000).

The report says that Minnesota had a total of 39,631 artists in 2003-2005. (It also noted that, with the margin of error, at the high end, we could now have 42,636 artists in the state). It also says the number of artists in Minnesota increased by 18% between 1990 and 2000. (NOTE: because this data is taken solely from the U.S. Census, most researchers believe that artists are being undercounted).

The report also includes some data by major population areas in the year 2000.Minneapolis-St. Paul is ranked 10th among the top 50 metropolitan areas by number of artists, and 34th in artists as a percent of the labor force (1.71 percent of total labor force).

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2. “GLEE” and Arts Advocacy

I heard a fun rumor that the cast of GLEE is going to Washington DC to lobby for arts education, which makes me love this show even more than I already do. The Los Angeles Times reported this week on GLEE’s surprise Golden Globe win, and that its creator has been stressing the importance of arts education.

“Glee, the [television] comedy-drama-musical about high school social outcasts finding redemption in a glee club, scored a surprise victory in winning the Golden Globe for best comedy or musical series, triumphing over traditional favorites…Exuberant cast members of the Fox series almost fell over themselves as they rushed the stage when the win was announced. ‘Thank you, Hollywood Foreign Press and Barbra Streisand,’ quipped creator Ryan Murphy. He praised studio and network executives who felt that a musical would work on network prime time and noted that Glee stressed the importance of arts education. Staying true to the show’s outcast theme, Murphy dedicated the win to ‘anybody and everybody who ever got a wedgie.’”

——————————————————————

3. Arts Organizations Seek Bonding Funds at Legislature

The Governor did not recommend any of the arts and culture projects in his proposed state bonding bill. In fact, he included almost no local projects in his proposal. Bonding is how the state borrows money to build buildings, and the buildings must be owned by a unit of government. The state’s bonding process is a completely different source of funds than general funding (the state’s biennial budget) or amendment funding (which is restricted in its uses). MCA does not lobby for indivudual bonding projects, but will provide advice to organizations seeking bonding funds if asked.

The legislature must now decide which projects it would like to fund. Word on the street is that the legislature plans to finish the bonding bill very early in the session. Already this week there were hearings in both the House and Senate even though they are not officially in session. Once approved, the list will then be sent to the Governor for final approval (or line-item veto).

Below is a list of some of the projects that have surfaced so far, who is requesting them, and links to more information on each. Legislators may still introduce other projects as individual bills during the upcoming session:

• Chatfield Public Schools: Potter Center for the Arts (would house the Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library) $9,105,000 http://www.hometown-pages.com/main.asp?SectionID=44&SubSectionID=182&ArticleID=29387&TM=83633.39
• City of Minneapolis: Orchestra Hall & Peavey Plaza Redevelopment $22,000,000 http://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/buildingforthefuture/
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden & Conservatory Rehab. $8,500,000 garden.walkerart.org/bonding
• City of St. Paul: Arts Partnership Expansion of Ordway Center $17,500,000 (Call Patrick DeWane for more info. 612-342-9574)
• City of Mankato: Mankato Civic Center expansion of auditorium $13,900,000http://www.mankato-mn.gov/Projects/CM.aspx
• City of Spring Valley: Brave Community Theater. $? http://www.bravecommunitytheatre.org/

There are also a few “cultural” projects for which there may or may not be a partial arts focus:

• Hennepin County: African American Museum and Cultural Center $840,000
• City of St. Paul: Asian Pacific Cultural Center $9,750,000 http://www.apccmn.org/

If you want to help with advocating for any of these projects, please contact the organization involved.

——————————————————————

4. Register Now For Arts Advocacy Day: March 2, 2010

You are invited to the best arts networking opportunity of the year, MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, 2010 in St. Paul. Join your fellow arts advocates at the MN History Center and State Capitol on March 2, 2010 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota. The state is facing yet another big deficit and arts funding will be threatened again. This year artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to stop possible cuts to the state arts budget. We will also be thanking legislators for their appropriations from the new Amendment funds to the arts community. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past deficits, state arts funding has been cut by a third. Participation of arts advocates is the one thing that makes sure we have power at the legislature.

Arts Advocacy Day Schedule March 2, 2010
7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for new attendees
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar & Join your team
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator appointments

You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing. Register Online By: Visiting www.mncitizensforthearts.org by February 26th, 2010. Questions? Contact Mark at MCA: 651-251-0868 / staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community.

And check out two great VIDEOS from Arts Advocacy Day Held February 24, 2009:
MN Stories by Chuck Olsen: http://www.mnstories.com/video/376/Arts-Adcovacy-Day
…and a 3 Minute Egg by Matt Peiken: http://www.mnstories.com/video/374/3-MINUTE-EGG-Arts-Advocacy-Day

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5. State Arts Board Legacy Applications Due in February

Application forms and info are up on the Minnesota State Arts Board website. The new grants programs are made possible by the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The Board created four major new programs as well as a number of smaller initiatives. Most of these new programs will have application deadlines inFebruary, 2010, with award panels held in March/April, and grants made in June, 2010. So you have no time to waste! The four major new programs and their application due dates are:

1. Arts Tour Minnesota – Due Feb. 12, 2010 and Festivals Grants – Due Feb. 26, 2010
2. Arts Access Grants – Due Feb. 26, 2010
3. Professional Development for Artists and Organizations/Artist Initiative Grants. (Programs still in development)
4. Life-Long Arts Learning Opportunities – Due Feb. 19, 2010

Smaller new programs include a census of artists and arts organizations, a touring folk/traditional visual arts exhibition, and additional traditional and folk arts grants. These programs are in addition to the Board’s previous decision to provide stabilization grants for arts organizations and presenters. And remember, these larger grant programs are in addition to all of the many new Arts, Arts Access, Arts Education and Arts and Cultural Heritage programs being launched across the state by our eleven Regional Arts Councils.

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6. Don’t Forget the Other Access Points for New Legacy Money

We are keeping a run-down on all of the various access points for amendment resources on our website: check http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/amendment-funds/othergrants/ for a listing of other opportunties from libraries, public broadcasting, etc.

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7. New Internship Opening at MCA

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding, seeks an intern to begin February 1st.The position is un-paid, part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week).

MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year.

Interns will have exposure to and opportunities to interact with some of the movers and shakers in the arts community, as well as a working knowledge of the legislative process, arts funding structures in Minnesota and the basic functions of running a nonprofit. Perks include free tickets to performances and many opportunities to advance in the arts and/or political community.

Duties and projects included in the internship: Work with staff on current projects including grassroots organizing, candidate meetings, voter education, board meeting preparation, filing and data entry. Interns may also have the opportunity to identify and take on projects of interest that relate to arts advocacy.

A qualified applicant would possess the following skills:

• Understanding of the political process. Past political experience preferred.
• Interest in working with the arts community.
• Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone.
• A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously.
• Computer literacy; preferably experience with Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel and database systems.
• Independent and creative work habits.

APPLY NOW: Please mail or email resume and cover letter ASAP by Jan. 27, 2010to: Mark Albers, staff at mncitizensforthearts.org, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114